Introduction
On 2 March 2018, at 21:17 local time, a Cessna Aircraft 525A (Citation Jet CJ2) registered as EC-KES experienced a serious incident during landing at Bern Airport (LSZB). The aircraft, operated by Taespejo Portugal, Lda, was on a commercial flight from Lille Airport (LFQQ), France, under instrument flight rules. The crew consisted of a pilot-in-command (Portuguese, aged 48 at the time) and a first officer (Spanish, aged 33), both holding commercial pilot licenses. Three passengers were on board. No injuries were sustained by crew or passengers.
Flight Details
The flight from Genf to Lille earlier that day was followed by a return flight to Bern. The crew obtained weather information indicating visibility of 5,000 m, light wind, shallow fog, and a damp runway with good braking action. The approach speed calculated for Bern was 115 kt. The first officer was the pilot flying, and the pilot-in-command was the pilot monitoring.
Incident Description
After receiving landing clearance for runway 14, the crew reported the runway in sight. At approximately 7 NM from the threshold, the aircraft was on the glide path with a ground speed of 205 kt. The autopilot was disengaged shortly before the decision height, and the aircraft was hand-flown. According to the crew, the touchdown was normal, possibly slightly left of the runway centerline. Subsequently, the aircraft yawed left, leading the crew to believe the runway might be slippery, and the aircraft deviated onto the left side of the runway and into snow. The pilot-in-command took control and steered the aircraft back to the centerline. The aircraft then taxied to the parking position without further issues.
Findings
Post-incident inspection revealed that the landing gear flaps of both main gear and the left flap were damaged. Dirt deposits were found on the left engine. Six runway edge and taxiway lights were broken or torn off. Measurement of wheel tracks in the snow showed that the left main gear first contacted the snow approximately 65 m before taxiway B, about 0.5 m left of the runway edge. The nose gear track began about 42 m after taxiway B, and the right main gear track appeared about 60 m before taxiway C. The distance between the outer tracks was 4.9 m, matching the main gear width of a Cessna 525A. The tracks then curved back onto the runway about 75 m after taxiway C. A friction measurement taken after the incident indicated a friction coefficient of 0.7, corresponding to good braking action. The runway was reported as damp.
Damage
The aircraft sustained light damage, including dents to the landing gear and flaps, and dirt deposits on the left engine. Third-party damage consisted of multiple broken runway edge and taxiway lights.